sneer

UK: /ˈsnɪə^r/ US: /snɪr/ ,(snēr)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sneer /snɪr/   v. 

1. [no object] to smile or laugh in a manner that shows ridicule or scorn.
2. to act, speak, or write in a manner showing such ridicule or scorn:
   [no object] They sneered at her because she was interested in fairness.
   [used with quotations]
   "Just try it,'' he sneered.

n. [countable]

3. a look, action, or remark of ridicule or scorn.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sneer  (snēr), v.i. 

1. to smile, laugh, or contort the face in a manner that shows scorn or contempt:
   They sneered at his pretensions.
2. to speak or write in a manner expressive of derision or scorn.

v.t. 

3. to utter or say in a sneering manner.

n. 

4. a look or expression of derision, scorn, or contempt.
5. a derisive or scornful utterance, esp. one more or less covert or insinuative.
6. an act of sneering.

• 1545–55; origin, originally, to snort; compare Frisian (north, northern dialect, dialectal) sneere scornful remark, snarl¹

sneer′er, n. 
sneer′ful, adj. 
sneer′ing•ly, adv. 
sneer′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 2. gibe. See scoff. 
• 5. scoff, gibe, jeer.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sneer / snɪə/ noun

1. a facial expression of scorn or contempt, typically with the upper lip curled
2. a scornful or contemptuous remark or utterance

verb

1. (intransitive) to assume a facial expression of scorn or contempt
2. to say or utter (something) in a scornful or contemptuous manner

Etymology: 16th Century: perhaps from Low Dutch; compare North Frisian sneere contempt

ˈsneerer noun

ˈsneering adjective , noun